Unspecified damages are being sought for loss of financial and emotional support, however a claim filed against the county earlier this year requested $2 million. The claim, which is the first step in the legal process of suing a government entity, was rejected in March.

Before his death, Canley was providing his mother, Magdalena Canley of Santa Paula, with $200 to $300 a month to help with living expenses, according to the lawsuit. He shared custody of his daughter, Adrian, now 4, with the child's mother, Edith Montoya.

Montoya and Adrian are now living in the San Fernando Valley community of Winnetka. Montoya referred all questions to her attorney, who did not return phone calls Tuesday.

The shooting occurred when Matthews, a detective based out of Thousand Oaks, was investigating an unrelated, nonviolent crime at the Crestwood Chalets apartment complex on Los Feliz Drive.

About 6:20 p.m., Canley allegedly approached Matthews in an "agitated state" and tried to run over the detective with a full-sized pickup truck, according to department reports.

Matthews, who was not in uniform, repeatedly warned Canley before firing several shots from his standard-issue .40-caliber handgun at the advancing truck, sheriff's officials said at the time.

While Matthews and additional responding patrol deputies were administering first aid to Canley, they discovered he had a loaded handgun in his waistband, according to reports.

Canley was on probation at the time of his death for a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace. He was also facing prosecution of a misdemeanor drug charge to which he had pleaded not guilty.

In a 2006 article in The Star, Canley's sister Maribel Magdaleno described her brother as a devoted father, loving brother and uncle who played basketball in the backyard with her children weekly. He wasn't a violent person, she said.

A District Attorney investigation of the year-old shooting is nearing completion, said Chief Assistant District Attorney Jim Ellison.